Matemadanda has lost bearing

On 16 March 2016, this writer gave lift to two young men from Kamfinsa to town. The two were so consumed in a heated debate on a headline in the Daily News of that day, so much consumed that they didn't even care to greet the Good Samaritan.

"Mujuru purge was a mistake," screamed the headline that sparked the debate. Unfortunately, the mind of the Good Samaritan was also seized with personal issues that he didn't even bother to join the debate, let alone listen to their heads of arguments. One statement still vivid in memory though is "Matemadanda azoona kukosha kwechikorobho arasa mvura."

Going through the story in question, the Good Samaritan was left with a conviction that Cde Matemadanda would be in the media the following day refuting, in the usual 'I was misquoted style,' what was ascribed to him by the Daily News. That was not to be.

In the story, Cde Matemadanda bemoaned the ouster of former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru from both government and ZANU PF, saying the allegations were manufactured. He went on to demand an apology to the nation for the perceived soiling of the names of the expelled people. Only God knows where that apology must come from.

With all due respect for the vital contributions that Cde Matemadanda made in the liberation of this country, his statements are outlandish. He seems to be hiding behind a finger. One does not need to be clever to see that all this vitriol is targeted at the president and head of this state, Cde Robert Mugabe. We have seen this method used in the Shona worldview. Kupondera musaga, the elders would call it. A pet, especially dogs are ingeniously given pejorative or hate-laden names which are suggestive of the nature of relationship between the owner of the pet and his relations and rivals in the village.

That tactic provides a means to indirect comment where direct confrontation is not feasible. You cannot directly challenge your in-laws. In the same vein, Cde Matemadanda cannot directly confront President Mugabe. In political parlance, this is called 'dog-whistle politics' which is a type of a  political speech using code words that appear to mean one thing to the general population but have a different meaning for a targeted part of the audience.

After the president received information about the nefarious activities of his then deputy, it was in his wisdom to relieve her of her duties. Cde Matemadenda must not forget that President Mugabe receives such information from various sources and he would not act in the manner he did if the sources were not collaborating.

It is an indirect indictment on the president for Cde Matemadanda to suggest that Mujuru purge was a mistake. Cde Matemadanda is authoritatively telling the nation that President Mugabe manufactured these allegations against Mujuru. He would do well if he tells the nation the source of his information that has led him to refute what President Mugabe said.

 We saw Cde Matemadanda playing a key role in the ouster of Mujuru. If he was convinced that the charges were contrived, why did he take part? Is it not a case of grapes turning sour? Like what the one of the Good Samaritan's passengers said, is it not the case of appreciating the import of a mop when you have spilt water?   

The fact that Mujuru has not yet appeared before the courts of law does not mean she has no case to answer.  The judges cannot haul an accused to court without a complainant and it is up to the later to either make litigation or just ignore. We know for sure that if Mujuru had appeared before the court, she was going to be found guilty one way or the other. It's certain that her arrest would have caused international outcry. So at times it is prudent to solve some issues politically like what happened on the Mujuru case.

If someone is falsely accused, ordinarily he or she files a lawsuit against the accuser for defamation. Mujuru did not do that. If we are to go by the logic informing Cde Matemadanda's argument, does that then mean she didn't approach the courts because she had a case to answer. There are many people whom you have wronged Cde but they have just decided not to go to court. After all, who told Cde Matemadanda that the Zimbabwe People First leader is now off the hook?

Cde Matemadanda appears like one who is preparing a soft landing ground. If he thinks Mujuru was mistakenly purged, he must just join her without making silly statements in the media and act like a double-edged sword. We know some cunning politicians play both sides of the fence so that whatever outcome they will not lose. According to the Guardian, George Bush's grandfather, Prescott Bush who was a shareholder of many companies, financed both Hitler and Russia for the same reason. It is high time that Cde Matemadanda come in the open and declare where his allegiance lies.

He said: "We didn't go to war to follow anyone." This pregnant statement hints at rebellion against President Mugabe's leadership. If he does not want to follow Cde Mugabe as the First Secretary of his party, patron of his war veteran association and president of his country, who then does he want to follow? In any case, Cde Matemadanda must not pluralize everything. He must speak for himself because no sane war veteran would share his warped view.

The war veteran leader also said that "nobody holds the title deeds of the party." He must as well remember that by the same token, nobody also holds the title deeds of the war veterans' association. He is not sacred and can be fired any time.
 
Cde Matemadanda is advised to advance the socio-economic interests of the war veterans. He must stay clear of factional politics because war veterans do not survive on politics alone. The freedom fighters need to be economically empowered. Cde Matemadanda would do well if he redirects his exuberance towards the empowerment of the freedom fighters.